State cuts funding for summer band classes

From marching band to preschool, state funding changes will impact this year’s summer school programs offered by Centerville-Abington Community Schools.

Superintendent Mike McCoy provided updates to board members at their Feb. 26 meeting.

Around this time each year, Indiana Department of Education provides districts with a list of summer classes that they’ll reimburse if at least 15 students are enrolled in each. That reimbursement is usually approximately half the cost of offering that instruction, McCoy said.

McCoy said the district took a $31,000 hit in summer school costs in 2024 and had budgeted for a similar amount this year.

However, this year, summer band isn’t on the reimbursement list. Expenses for CACS’ summer band instructors alone are about $35,000. That means CACS would lose about $60,000 if it offered all of the summer classes it offered in 2024.

Despite the lack of reimbursement for summer music, Centerville Senior High School still plans to have a summer band this year and compete at Indiana State Fair, McCoy said.

Tradition is strong for the Blue Regiment, which has won Band Day’s Class AA overall title for mid-sized bands for 12 consecutive years. Those experiences are among graduates’ most cherished memories, and McCoy said he doesn’t want to take them away.

“We will work to find a way to make it sustainable moving forward, but it was a surprise to us, and I think to all area schools,” McCoy said. “We will continue to provide as many options for our students, but with the current state diploma types, these types of classes were most definitely impacted.”

To keep band, CACS officials are considering a variety of cost reductions, such as moving band camp back to CSHS from Taylor University.

Tough decisions ahead

Another plan is addressing any class overlaps and considering the most cost-effective ways to offer instruction.

Administrators recommend a summer course list to the school board, which usually approves it in late March or early April.

CACS will continue offering state-required summer classes for second and third graders who didn’t pass IREAD3 tests.

CSHS also will offer a few required classes for students needing to catch up on credits and graduate. If students earn those credits by October, they are counted as graduating with their class in state data.

However, summer courses such as economics that some students choose to get ahead on credits likely will be cut, McCoy said. He said it’s sad that they’ll likely have to take away some opportunities.

Another area likely impacted is summer preschool. 

Rose Hamilton’s previous principal had discussed eliminating summer preschool in 2024 because it overlapped with summer kindergarten. CACS’ special education department said CACS isn’t required to offer those classes, so because of the increase in preschool classes, McCoy recommends not to continue summer preschool. 

In related news, McCoy said they’re making great progress on changes to high school classes because of Indiana’s new diploma requirements. Band, choir and art pathways have been approved. 

Administrators are working very closely with counselors on the new diplomas, McCoy said. The first meeting for current eighth graders and their families who will be affected by the new requirements will take place this week.

For instance, the Class of 2029 won’t be required to take economics, but it’s still required for all 2025-2028 graduates. Schools must figure out how to offer enough classes that meet the needs of both groups for a few years, which is especially challenging for small schools, McCoy notes.

CSHS expects to offer 11 graduation pathways at the start of the next school year.

Starting now, CACS and other school districts will face more tough decisions in the next three to four years than they might have faced in Indiana education history, McCoy said.

While new Indiana Gov. Mike Braun urges government units to do more with less, it’s extremely difficult to do that when so much change is occurring and new graduation pathways are required, McCoy said.

Annex demolition  

McCoy and Assistant Superintendent Sean Stevenson attended a pre-demolition meeting regarding two buildings: the annex building that most recently served upper grades of Centerville-Abington Elementary and the former administration building.

The old deteriorating office is just to the east of the current administration building at 115 W. South St. 

Fencing has been installed around the annex, and demolition is expected to start around Thursday, March 6. It will take up to 90 days. Crews expect to remove gas lines to both buildings this week. 

The former administration building will be demolished when school isn’t in session, likely during spring break, so the drive around the house isn’t affected.

In a note to parents, school leaders say the annex’s parking lot won’t be accessible and students shouldn’t walk through the fence to get home. Fencing will remain up until demolition is completed, likely this summer.

Sidewalks to the east, north and south of the annex are still open.

In other business

• Member Todd Dooley continues watching an Indiana bill that would require school board candidates to declare a political party or face additional challenges to get on ballots as an independent. 
• Member Brad Lambright attended Indiana School Boards Association’s Statehouse Day on Feb. 18, shortly before the legislative session’s halfway point. Schools were asked to summarize how monetary changes are going to affect them and to send that to legislators. Lambright discussed some issues with other local school board members who attended.

Personnel

Departures: Elizabeth Leeth, CSHS day custodian; Marissa Thompson, CSHS Bulldog Opportunity Academy

Hire: Jacob Stewart, junior high golf coach